How Often Should I Meet With My Financial Advisor? - Spinnaker Investment Group (2024)

It’s important to remember that although you hire your financial advisor as a professional to perform a specific task, your satisfaction level will be largely based on the relationship you develop. And, as with all relationships, expectations and communication play key roles. Many investors are busy, find in-person meetings burdensome and feel they’ve hired the advisor to do the work and worry for them. Others feel the need to be more involved and, perhaps, reassured with more regular interactions. In addition to striking the appropriate balance for you and your personal situation with your advisor, there are certain times when meetings are essential.

Annual meeting

You should meet with your advisor at least once a year to reassess basics like budget, taxes and investment performance. This is the time to discuss whether you feel you are on the right track, and if there is something you could be doing better to increase your net worth in the coming 12 months.

Estate planning

When you’re creating or making a major change to your estate plan, you should meet with your financial advisor to make sure those plans fit in with your strategic financial planning scheme. Of course, your advisor cannot offer legal advice, but they can ensure your estate plan is proceeding in the right direction.

Significant financial event

Whether it’s coming into more money through an inheritance or promotion at work or acquiring a large debt, a significant financial event should trigger a meeting with your financial advisor. Your taxes, strategies and the structure of your portfolio may be impacted.

Major life-changing event

Your short and long-term financial planning can be altered by events such as marriage, birth of a child, divorce, loss of a job and many others.

Large portfolios

If you are an investor with a large portfolio, it’s likely to be diversified in ways different than the average investor. If so, a quarterly review may be more appropriate than an annual one to, for example, re-evaluate underperforming assets.

Again, one size does not fit all when it comes to financial advice. One way to provide an overview as to where you are with your investments is to visit our quick reality check for your portfolio. You’ll be glad you did.

Disclosure

The information contained herein is based on internal research derived from various sources and does not purport to be statements of all material facts relating to the securities mentioned. The information contained herein, while not guaranteed as to the accuracy or completeness, has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.

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How Often Should I Meet With My Financial Advisor? - Spinnaker Investment Group (2024)

FAQs

How Often Should I Meet With My Financial Advisor? - Spinnaker Investment Group? ›

You should meet with your advisor at least once a year to reassess basics like budget, taxes and investment performance. This is the time to discuss whether you feel you are on the right track, and if there is something you could be doing better to increase your net worth in the coming 12 months.

How much money should I have to meet with a financial advisor? ›

Some traditional financial advisors have minimum investment amounts they require to work with clients. These can range from $20,000 to $500,000 or even more. Why? Because their fees need to cover their time and expertise, and managing smaller portfolios may not be cost-effective for them.

Is it smart to meet with a financial advisor? ›

While not everyone needs a financial advisor, many people would benefit from personalized advice to help them build a strong financial future. You don't need to have a lot of wealth to take advantage of a financial advisor.

Are financial advisors required to meet with clients annually? ›

Take the time to examine which model best fits your client's needs, and document that examination in your notes. Client contact. Another requirement of the safe harbor is that each client be contacted at least annually to determine whether his or her financial situation and/or investment objectives have changed.

How do you know if your financial advisor is good? ›

Here are four traits you want to look for when gauging whether a Financial Advisor is suitable for you:
  1. They work with you. ...
  2. They take a holistic view of your finances. ...
  3. They develop and customize your investment strategy. ...
  4. They have the support of an investment team. ...
  5. There is a lack of transparency.

What is the 80 20 rule for financial advisors? ›

The rule is often used to point out that 80% of a company's revenue is generated by 20% of its customers. Viewed in this way, it might be advantageous for a company to focus on the 20% of clients that are responsible for 80% of revenues and market specifically to them.

How many times should you meet with your financial advisor? ›

You should meet with your advisor at least once a year to reassess basics like budget, taxes and investment performance. This is the time to discuss whether you feel you are on the right track, and if there is something you could be doing better to increase your net worth in the coming 12 months.

What to avoid in a financial advisor? ›

Here are seven mistakes to avoid when hiring a financial advisor.
  • Consulting with a “captive” advisor instead of an independent advisor. ...
  • Hiring an individual instead of a team. ...
  • Choosing an advisor who focuses on just one area of planning. ...
  • Not understanding how an advisor is paid. ...
  • Failing to get referrals.

What are the disadvantages of a financial advisor? ›

Disadvantages of a Certified Financial Adviser

Perhaps the most significant concern of hiring a financial adviser is that they don't always have your best interests in mind. Despite many advisers making decisions that will benefit the client, it is not unusual for conflicts of interest to arise.

At what net worth should I get a financial advisor? ›

Generally, having between $50,000 and $500,000 of liquid assets to invest can be a good point to start looking at hiring a financial advisor. Some advisors have minimum asset thresholds. This could be a relatively low figure, like $25,000, but it could $500,000, $1 million or even more.

Do financial advisors charge monthly or yearly? ›

They can only charge fees, and the most prevalent structure is the assets under management, or AUM, model. AUM fees are calculated as a percentage of the assets they manage and are payable as long as the advisor has a relationship with the client. These fees can be paid on a yearly, quarterly or monthly basis.

How often do clients want to hear from their financial advisor? ›

Every relationship is different, and because financial planning is such a personal issue, there's no one-size-fits-all answer for how often you should talk to your adviser. But financial planner Don Grant says there should be a review at least semi-annually.

How many clients does a good financial advisor have? ›

A good average number of clients per financial advisor to have is usually in the range of 50 to 150. But you may need fewer than that if you're primarily targeting high-net-worth individuals. Finding your ideal number of clients can depend largely on your goals as an advisor.

Should you put all your money with one financial advisor? ›

Whether you should consider working with more than one advisor can depend on your overall goals and financial situation. If you're fairly new to investing and you haven't built up a sizable net worth yet, for instance then one advisor may be sufficient to meet your needs.

At what point is it worth getting a financial advisor? ›

A financial advisor is worth paying for if they provide help you need, whether because you don't have the time or financial acumen or you simply don't want to deal with your finances. An advisor may be especially valuable if you have complicated finances that would benefit from professional help.

How much should you tell your financial advisor? ›

An advisor needs to know how much money you bring in each month and each year. It will help them create a realistic plan for meeting your goals and protecting your assets. Yet, some clients don't disclose all their income sources to their advisor.

How much do I need to use a financial advisor? ›

Your adviser's fees will be based on many things: what advice you need, how much time it will take, and the size of the assets involved. Advisers often charge between 1% and 2% of the asset in question (e.g. a pension pot), with lower percentages being charged for larger assets.

Is a 1 fee worth it for a financial advisor? ›

While 1.5% is on the higher end for financial advisor services, if that's what it takes to get the returns you want, then it's not overpaying, so to speak. Staying around 1% for your fee may be standard, but it certainly isn't the high end. You need to decide what you're willing to pay for what you're receiving.

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